Mutizwa’s bicycle goal of season for ABSA Premiership?

Chipo SabetaIt was a great reverse shot from a ball played off his chest.

What a better way to get the season underway for Lamontville Golden Arrows’ and Zimbabwean international Knox Mutizwa in the 2018/19 first round of matches against Maritzburg United in the KwaZulu-Natal derby.

Last weekend, the 24-year-old stepped up in the ABSA Premiership match to stun everyone watching the game with what is being labelled the “goal of the season”.

Mutizwa had his back to the goalpost, chest controlled with two defenders on his case and finished with a beautiful bicycle kick in the 71th minute of the match.

What a way to open his scoring sheet for the Zimbabwe and Golden Arrows forward who admit that the bar is high to let go.

“I am so happy with the goal I scored on Sunday. I have set a huge bar and there is so much expected from me. I know it will be a good season but it means I have to work hard,” he told Business Weekly Sport.

Social media was abuzz as they reacted to Mutizwa’s fabulous strike.

Football analyst and Soccer Laduma journalist, Joe Crann twitted “Mutizwa has just scored a goal of the season contender. Beauty!

SuperSport commentator Mark Gleeson said: “That’s special. Knox Mutizwa with a phenomenal goal, the dance is so near as good as the goal. Superbly strike.”

Football analysts have been comparing Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League bicycle kicks and Mutizwa’s strike.

There was a spooky coincidence with all overhead strikes coming from almost exactly symmetrical positions for left and right footers.

In May this year, it was Cristiano Ronaldo whose “bicycle kick” wonder goal saw the Juventus fans applauding his effort from the stands in their 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory.

The 33-year-old Portuguese rising almost unnaturally high before acrobatically firing the ball into the corner of the net beating veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Receiving the ball from Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, Gareth Bale had his back towards goal as he plunged in the air and unleashed the ambitious “bicycle kick” and another superb finish in the Champions League finals against Liverpool.

Mutizwa who scored seven goals last season, said it was flattering to be compared with the worlds’ best players but he will not be carried away.

“I have seen videos circulating, a comparison of my goals with Ronaldo and Bale’s goals. For any player, it’s a flattering feeling. However, there is more to contemplate ahead of the season. It’s not the same thing. We have a long way to go and I don’t do such comparison to blow me away,” he said.

After finishing 8th position on the ABSA Premiership log standings with 38 points, Arrows lost three players Kudakwashe Mahachi who joined Orlando Pirates, Jabulani Shonge who was snapped by Chippa United and Lehlolohonolo Noyane who signed for Bidvest Wits.

“We had a good season but life goes on. These were important players and they played a crucial part last season, we will miss them, but surely we have to live without them,” Mutizwa said.

New players at the Durban-based outside are Divine Lunga who was signed from Chicken Inn, Siyanda Zwane, and Kwanele Hlongwane.